Tucker Carlson on Sen. Burns's comment that terrorists "drive taxicabs in the daytime and kill at night": "I think it's funny. He didn't offend me"
Tucker Carlson said that "there's probably some truth in" Sen. Conrad Burns's (R-MT) statement that terrorists are a "faceless enemy" who "drive taxi cabs in the daytime and kill at night." Carlson claimed that "[t]here probably are cab drivers who are sympathetic to terror" and added: "I think it's funny. He didn't offend me."
On the September 1 edition of MSNBC's Tucker, host Tucker Carlson said that "there's probably some truth in" Sen. Conrad Burns's (R-MT) statement that terrorists are a "faceless enemy" who "drive taxicabs in the daytime and kill at night." Carlson asserted Burns was talking about "cab drivers who are sympathetic to terror," "terrorists," and "not ... all taxi drivers." Guest Armstrong Williams, a conservative commentator and columnist, called Burns's statement "outrageous" as someone who takes "taxi cabs all the time in our nation's capital." Williams also stated that "unless we have information from our Justice Department or the intelligence community that say that cab drivers go out and drive during the day and commit dastardly acts at night, Burns should apologize." Carlson responded that Williams's judgment was based only on taxi "trips from, say, the train station to the Palm," a restaurant in Washington, D.C.
Carlson prefaced his question to Williams about Burns's comments by stating that Williams is "someone who, you know, spends time thinking about, you know, how America treats its minority groups."
Carlson also claimed during the segment that "[t]here probably are cab drivers who are sympathetic to terror." Later, he asserted that Burns was "attacking terrorists" and not taxicab drivers. Conservative Orlando, Florida, radio host Pat Campbell stated: "Well, I'm not sure who he offended. Did he offend the taxi drivers? Did he offend the terrorists?" But Campbell also called the comments "out of line," "inappropriate for somebody in public office," and something for which Burns "owes an apology." Carlson concluded: "I think it's funny. He didn't offend me."
From the September 1 edition of MSNBC's Tucker:
CARLSON: Well, speaking of hater -- hold on, I want to get to -- there is a Republican, since we've been pounding on this Democrat, who is being accused of hatred, I suppose. Montana Senator Conrad Burns. He's in hot water for comments he rade [sic] recently. We should say this is in the context of a very hotly disputed Senate race. At a fundraiser with Laura Bush, the senator said this country is threatened by what he called, quote, "a faceless enemy" of terrorists who, quote, "drive taxicabs in the daytime and kill at night." So all of a sudden, Laura, he is being called a bigot for saying this. And people are saying, "Well, you know, an outrageous thing to say. It's kind of profiling." I don't know, I think there's probably some truth in what he's saying. I mean, does this offend you?
SCHWARTZ: You know what? I think he needs to keep his mouth shut and his eyes open for the rest of the season --
CARLSON: Why?
SCHWARTZ: -- before he loses by double digits.
CARLSON: Wait, why should he keep his mouth shut? There probably are cab drivers who are sympathetic to terror.
SCHWARTZ: This guy -- every time he opens it up, something else comes out. Something else comes out completely outrageous. The "little Guatemalan man," you know, now the taxicab drivers are terrorists. I mean --
[crosstalk]
CARLSON: No, but what's -- wait, wait, wait slow down, wait, slow down. What's outrageous about it? I don't understand what's outrageous about that at all. What's outrageous about suggesting --
SCHWARTZ: You know the Republican gaffes, the "macaca" with Senator [George] Allen [R-VA], they're all showing that, you know what, they fail to know the value of diversity. And they've made great net gains among minorities, among the Latino --
CARLSON: Diversity? He's attacking -- what, terrorists are part of the diverse tapestry of America now? Look, he's attacking terrorists.
SCHWARTZ: Well, Guatemalan -- I mean everything's -- but what about the -- what about the taxi drivers that come to this country that are legal that are of all different descents? Pakistani, Afghanistan --
CARLSON: Well, he's not attacking all taxi drivers as far as I know, he's just saying --
SCHWARTZ: Well, yes he is, I don't know, it sounded like all of the taxicab drivers are terrorists at night. Come on.
CARLSON: OK, so he lost the taxi driver vote! I mean, come on, let's -- see, this is the problem --
SCHWARTZ: He's not going to get picked up any more on the street, I'll tell you that.
CARLSON: This is the problem. Armstrong Williams, do you see this as a -- an offensive statement? You're someone who, you know, spends time thinking about, you know, how America treats its minority groups. Do you think this is a -- I mean, are you offended when you hear this?
WILLIAMS: Listen, come on Tucker. A, it's an outrageous statement. He's painting everyone with a broad brush. Listen, I am one who take taxicabs all the time in our nation's capital. Most of them are of Muslim descent. We have very engaging conversations, and none of them have ever given me the impression that they would ever do any harm to America. They denounce the silliness of these people who have no value system. They don't value life. You cannot negotiate with them. I think Senator Burns should not -- unless we have information from our Justice Department or intelligence community that say that cab drivers go out and drive during the day and commit dastardly acts at night, he should apologize. And there's nothing to support that.
CARLSON: OK. So what you're saying is because in your trips from, say, the train station to the Palm on 19th Street in D.C. --
WILLIAMS: Only my experiences, Tucker.
CARLSON: -- no cab drivers ever admitted being in Al Qaeda. This is wrong?
WILLIAMS: I don't think our intelligence community has reaffirmed that Carl -- Tucker. Come on now.
CARLSON: OK, "come on now." Hey, Pat, what do you think? Are you offended by this?
CAMPBELL: Well, I'm not sure who he offended. Did he offend the taxi drivers? Did he offend the terrorists? Who should he apologize to? Obviously -- obviously, the comment's out of line. It's totally inappropriate for somebody in public office. He owes an apology. But again, I don't know exactly who he offended.
CARLSON: I think it's funny. He didn't offend me.
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You can't offend a racist when you make a racist comment. Makes sense to me...
I don't think Tucker is a racist. But this is one aspect of the the "old-time" conservatism rearing its ugly head--nativism. Repubs have tried to silence this part of its base, but it pops up every now and then. Tucker provides an example of it.
Like me, I suspect Tucker's a WASP. It's darn hard to offend us. And some of us have a hard time seeing how others can be offended.
If we do acknowledge the offensiveness of some statements, we're called wussies, PCer's, bed-wetting liberals, etc.
Oh well, just don't call me republican. That's all.
The reason its hard to offend us is WE, that is people like us have all the power. I have nothing to feel insecure about. I know my interests are not being ignored other than my political liberal interests. IF I were of color or of a minority religion I might be a bit more sensative as to how the winds are blowing. I might be a bit more sensative about whether they are going to round up people who look like me and put is in internment camps.
Did you say "THINK" Carlson is a WASP?
It's a cottage industry image, YUPPY/WASP look that’s so pathetic its cries out for a comic relief role on some cheap black stereotype TV serial from the 70's.
He may as well start his carrier in porn, since he's already made himself universally known as AMORALE.
Happy Thoughts;
Dan Grady
Is a horrible person, yet if he makes an anti FOX News statement MMFA will post him up as an intellegent giant.
...for me to speak for MMFA, but I think by highlighting Tuckie's copy-cat (of Keith O) press busters segment they are 1) pointing out that even an extreme Repub apologist like TC can acknowledge gross misrepresentations on his side (and show also a slow dissolve of the Rovian resolve) and 2) that EVEN his production staff bookmarks MMFA.
you will see it in almost every thread. the tired old 'why are you reporting on this when there is a kitten stuck in a tree 3 miles from here, you must be a kitty HATER weep weep, moan moan'. The tommy-boys and the shouldofwornahelmet and a few others always spam these posts.
I want your mindreading skills.
Since when has MMFA done anything with Tucker's sane statements except post the transcript and a brief description? Your characterization is absurd and baseless.
This ignoramus, Schwartz, can't divine that Burns' was saying that terrorists are guerilla fighters, people who appear to lead normal lives in on the surface, doing ordinary jobs -- like cabbie -- in the daytime, but when nightfall comes, become who they in truth are, the enemy. When daybreak comes, they melt back into the civilian population. This is the classic definition of illegal combatants according to sections 3 and 4 of the Geeva Conventions.
Carlson at least understood this much. And he even thought Burns' analogy was a reasonably tongue-in-cheek way of making this point. Only very dense people or those whose intent is to spin and twist this remark as some form of racism would believe Sen. Burns intended his remarks to be taken literally.
Why would he specifically choose taxi cab drivers as the example ? Why not doctors or attorneys or school teachers ?
Not UNLIKE the way Sen Biden did when he figured Indian-Americans could be found working at 711's rather than as Doctors [which BTW many are--oops is that stereotyping too?]...of course Biden's slip didn't INCLUDE them being Terrorists.
I agree that Biden's statement was asinine and so was the one made by Andrew Young. I condemed them both for this. I hate stereotyping it's boring and the sign of a lazy mind in my opinion. I hate it regardless of who does it. That said, I think you highlighted Biden's statement to illustrate that this kind of behavior doesn't just happen with conservatives. I agree that no party has a monopoly on stupidity, but Jeter I can honestly say with out stereptyping that these type of statements happen more frequently by right wingers than other conservatives and Liberals. Moreover, they have people rushing to the defense of the asinine statements with statements like Tucker's. Nothing offends them unless it denigrates a group they feel apart of. It's very selfish.
You wrote:
"That said, I think you highlighted Biden's statement to illustrate that this kind of behavior doesn't just happen with conservatives."
Actually that didn't OCCUR to me this time [though I've done that in the past] In this particular instance I simply thought the "taxi driver" stereotype was SIMILAR to Sen. Biden's "711" stereotype. AND I figured comparing the TWO, focused on topic of "stereotyping", not necessarily on whom was saying it.
You also wrote:
" I agree that no party has a monopoly on stupidity, but Jeter I can honestly say with out stereptyping that these type of statements happen more frequently by right wingers than other conservatives and Liberals."
I hate to AGREE with you Lynn...but I do :-/
Because Doctors and Lawyers are not perceived in this, that, or any society as your non-descript average Joe. The intent of Burns' remark is to suggest anybody can be a guerilla fighter. Guerillas don't wear uniforms nor do they announce themselves.
Burns could have chosen plumbers, I suppose, but i think it better to choose a job thata majority of people would see worked everyday. Cab drivers certainly meet that test. Plumbers, garbage collectors, truck drivers and the mailman also meet the test. Choose your favorite flavor and substitute.
Nice try...but wrong. Burns, once again with his foot in mouth, was showing his NIH (or NBH...no born here) attitude. With all of the stereotyping of cab driver's foreign ethnicity, do you really think this didn't play into it?
To make matters worse, after Burns rival stated that he was not aware of anyone trying to "tomahawk" him, the Montana Republican Party spokesman tried a "you too" argument, claiming that a "American Indians have long found "tomahawk" a derogatory term." Now that's the first time I've ever heard that. Perhaps that spokesman was confusing it with the "tomahawk chop." Such a wonderful display of stupidity and desperation.
The cab driver references were directed towards people in the US. Are you saying that they're in some way connected to terrorist organizations?
The illegal combatants you speak of are fighting in their own country. Yes, they're gorilla fighters, but they are not illegal combatants.
I'm not sure what you were trying to say about doctors and lawyers in the posts below, but the number one man in AlQaeda is Doctor Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Who think its YOUR problem if you want to call someone for racist nonsense. Yeah like the cabdriver reference wasnt about the nationalities of those driving cabs in AMERICA which as we all know is the subject of this racist rant. The message is look at those who dont look like the guy in the mirror when you shave as potential terrorists. This is helping the situation HOW? Sowing racist discontent and xenophobic hatred is what is going on here. You agree. You support such racist baloney. Thats fine no accounting for stupidity, racism or just out of control hatred. Keep making appologies for those who would draw divisions among us. Excuse us if we are made naseous by the sickening tactic
So the poster boy for the College republicans who has got rid of his bow-tie, grown his hair and got a fake tan in a sad attempt to butch up says he's not offended by that racist comment?
That is almost as surprising as finding out that the North Pole is cold.
I fall into the "very dense" or "intent to spin" category?
My vote is for the first. I'm sure my wife will agree.
Anyway, I see how some could be offended at this. If Burns could take it back and state it otherwise, he would.
Offense is in the ear of the beholder. None of you, your wife, myself, or Senator Burns are in any way responsible for some other, third party's feelings. People who blame the actions of others for their own feelings have their own little classification in the DSM.
If I say that pedophiles are a "faceless enemy" who "substitute teach in the daytime and molest children at night" based on that nutcase in the news recently don't people who are substitute teachers have a right to be rather offended at my blatant smearing of their whole profession because I've conflated the two identities based on my severly limited and simple perception of them?
Of course our actions affect and influence how others feel? What do you think the whole concept of nurturing and parenting is about? We are always partly (at the least) responsible for our actions, including how they make others feel. Are those reactions always RATIONAL and predictable? No. But to say that we are never rresponsible for how our words and actions affect others is ignorant and foolish? (Did those words make you unhappy or feel antipathy towards me? I understand that is a normal response to being called ignorant and foolish, and I take responsibility for that,thank you very much).
Have you read the part of the DSM that deals with people who lack all empathy and thus have no problem with others being verbally abused?
Whether or not Senator Burns's comments meant to mean that Muslim taxi-drivers are terrorists, or if it was some witty anecdote to describe terrorists is 100% speculation. However, I do think that he should still be made to apologize. Senators should represent their electorates correctly by carefully planning out any public statements they make to be free of ambiguity.
The comment was made at a campaign with Bush - people don't know the intention of Sen. Burns's comments because they were deliberately ambiguous. To me, the more important question is whether Sen. Burn's comments were playing off of a stereotype of Muslim taxi-drivers, or strengthening one.
And obviously, Tucker Carlson thinks the whole matter is funny because he drives around in his limousine all day.
the statement: "Child molesters are conservative pundits and politicians by day and buggering kids by night." Sure, not all conservatives are child molesters, but no doubt there are child molesters who are conservatives, maybe even most of them - but unlike Tucker I don't find the likelyhood "funny".
nailed it with this quote:
"Senator Burns should have apologize for his quote alleging taxi drivers to be muslim terrorists. You can't fault muslims for driving taxis, all the convenience store jobs are taken by Indians."
She didn't say that ! Provide an accurate quote, and a reference.
He's a COWARD who will never actually engage. A lame, chicken-sh*t, ignorant COWARD who doesn't have the guts for actual debate. He's a waste of space.
outraged. I read the above and I don't see where Burns or Carlson are necessarily targeting all US taxicab drivers (and only US taxicab drivers). There are those both among us and around the world that have a mind to spread terror, be it in the MidEast (nameless, faceless fanatics) or the US (McVeigh, Randolph, etc)
including Bush and Cheney are sound asleep. It is daytime when they wreak havoc.
All of the so-called terror cells have turned out to be nothing. This includes the British group, whose trial incidentally is being postponed until 2008. Those who buy into the fear mongering reveal their limited mental capacity. Some people were born to be led around. They are easily swayed by the terror scare of the week. Their posts on this forum are given due credence.
First, Burns statement used a stereotype. It would have been the same if he said something about the guy behind the counter at the conveneince store or the guy behind the counter at the motel. It's a stupid Archie Bunker comment.
Second, Carlson asks who did he offend? Well Tucker, you stupid fool, Burns offended everyone with half a brain. But then you're not offended because you have half your brain tied around your back and blind to Burn's stupidity.
Tucker Carlson verifies the title.
It's the abramoff, stupid. It's the repo culture of corruption and incompetence, moron.
---Carlson: "I think it's funny. He didn't offend me."---
Since there's absolutely zero chance of an actual, real-life cab driver appearing on this show (lord forbid!)-as opposed to wealthy political pundits like Carlson- we will have to guess whether the cabbies see any humor in this "joke".
*yawn*
This is getting old. Some conservative hack makes a dumb remark and the other conservatives try to defend him while the people on the left all get self-righteous about it and trash him.
Why do we even pick this stuff apart anymore? You think Tucker cares of anyone thinks he's racist? Sen Burns? If anything they're both laughing all the way to the bank by pandering to fears and creating controversy. Tucker probably said what he said hoping he'd get on Media Matters.
It IS getting old, but are you suggesting we just ignore it and let it flourish even more ?
There is never a shortage of people who think that its funny to mock OTHER people's ethnicity, & there is no real argument to be made that Burns wasn't targeting Middle Eastern & central Asia immigrants.. Carlson has once again demonstrated that he is little more than a smug, over-privileged, intellectualy-challenged, preppy geek. That he would defend such a dimwitted & clearly racist remark is not surprising. The number of posters jumping up in his defense at THIS website, however, is.
When are we as a culture going to finally stop tolerating such ignorant bullsh*t? It isn't harmless, it isn't okay, & it isn't funny... especially coming from a United States Senator. If you think that this sort of oppressive stupidity is acceptable from one of our political elites, then really need to rethink your own relationship to humanity.
You are an insensitive white guy living in sheltered world so divorced from reality that its would be impossible to offend you! Your comments, and the senator's comments, are racist, plain and simple.
Imagine such a thing coming from a Dem, directed at any other racial group. You know what would happen.
If someone made the statement that All White male conservatives are racist (which I know isn't true) Tucker would be outraged. He and Joe Scarborough would have half hour segments dedicated to how wrong it is to race bait and how it’s dividing America. Yet they don't seem to understand how these kinds of "jokes" stereotyping the various American ethnic groups are divisive. Amazingly they want to set the rules, so evidently the litmus test as to what is or isn’t offensive is whether it offends the Tuckers of the world. What an arrogant SOB.
When we think that Tucker has reached his optimum, he just surprises us all and spins out another gem Now he thinks that it is funny saying that all taxi drivers are terrorists at night, and that he did not find the comment offensive. Well Tucker, if you have forgotten, you are a privileged WHITE BOY, who makes a living at slamming those who do not have a forum to defend themselves. Your true Racist qualities seem to creep into each of your comedic hours, competing with the likes of Limbaugh, Beck, Buchanan, et. al. Here is a suggestion to the readers of this site. Let us pass a picture of Tucker to all the taxi drivers in NY, DC and LA, with the caption that reads "THIS MAN SAYS THAT YOU ARE A TERRORIST".
Let us pass a picture of Tucker to all the taxi drivers in NY, DC and LA, with the caption that reads "THIS MAN SAYS THAT YOU ARE A TERRORIST".
Actually, there should be a picture of Sen. Burns with a caption reading "THIS MAN SAYS THAT YOU ARE A TERRORIST."
Next to that there should be a picture of Tuckie with the caption "THIS MAN THINKS THAT'S FUNNY."